Some 6,000 fruit tree seedlings have been distributed and planted in Katine schools to improve the environment and offer possible income generating opportunities.

The sub-county's 15 schools are being assisted to create orchards and woodlots – small portions of land containing trees - to provide fruit for pupils to eat and for the school to sell. Many pupils arrive at school having not eaten that morning. Few bring lunch to school or eat before they return home in the evening.

Schools receive very little funding from the district government and struggle to afford necessary resources, such as textbooks, which has led to poor pupil performance and low education standards in the country. On average every child studying under the government's universal primary education (UPE) programme receives just UShs 500 (about $0.24).

The cost of the trees has been met through the Katine project being implemented by the African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref), which is being funded by Guardian readers and Barclays. Each school received 400 trees.

As well as feeding pupils and perhaps providing some needed money, the initiative will help improve the environment. Over recent years, particularly following the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency in Katine in 2003, the community resorted to burning charcoal to support their livelihoods.

"The school orchard will provide fruits both for consumption and as an income generating activity for schools to be able to generate more income to address the needs that the UPE funds cannot cover," said, Lillian Viko, Amref's education officer in Katine.

According to Viko, the trees supplied include eucalyptus, pine, neem and orange trees. The seedlings cost UShs 1,500 each.

The success of the tree planting initiative will, however, depend on the commitment of each school.

Viko doesn't think this will be a problem. She said the schools have clubs and looking after the trees will be undertaken by them. "The issue of maintenance is therefore taken care of," she said.